Missing scene from last episode of the TMNT 2003 series "Big Brawl" story arc.

When the Daimyo left, and the healer returned, Usagi thought there was some tension in the latter's face and movements. Added to these observations, the healer's repeated requests he "remain awake and aware" caused the Ronin to realize his healer feared he would fall asleep.

Usagi understood. He was tired, deep tired, in muscle, bone, and soul. However, he was also pursuing a question in his mind. Should he return to his life on the road in his own world with Gennesuke, or take up Leonardo's offer to return home with him and his family?

Usagi no longer feared or worried much about the kame's nezumi father saying they were all ninja. If they were not thieves or killers for hire, they were unlike any other ninja he knew. They had proved themselves to him and others today siding with the Daimyo instead of his son. He had not overheard them make a single request for a reward from the Daimyo either.

The idea of living in hiding bothered him. He could be silent, even sneaky, when it was needed. As a rule he though, being both forthright and polite was more compatible with honor. Indeed, it bothered him Leonardo could not live so more often. He almost thought of extending the opposite offer himself: asking Leonardo and his own family to come live in his own world. But he had no permanent shelter or place there to offer them as a home. Also, they seemed to have foes to keep in check and friends to protect in their own world.

This put his thoughts on a new path. He also had friends who might call on him at times. He had his own village where he'd grown up, which had been attacked before and might be again. He had Tomo Ame. He'd already helped her once in guarding her lord Neryuki from a plot of lord Hebi. He had Gen himself along with others he'd met as a bodyguard and "sometimes" bounty hunter. Kitsune, always getting herself and her little sister in trouble by doing "what a girl must to get by." There were many people and places he felt a slight or great pull toward in his heart. When he thought of leaving them forever with no way but the Daimyo's portals to and from the Battle Nexus to reach him ... To accept Leonardo's invitation felt like a betrayal of them. He would have to say "no" to Leonardo, and he felt sad and worried at the prospect.

. . .

Two figures walked through halls in the Daimyo's palace as morning sunlight poured through its windows. Both wore swords and worried expressions. One, a very tall kame in a blue mask, rubbed his chin. The other, a small rabbit is a blue kimono, had his ears somewhat laid back in their topknot. They both turned a corner and their eyes flew open upon their joint realization they faced each other. Neither had heard the others' footsteps.

Leonardo began. "Usagi, I …"

The rabbit raised a hand, "Please Leonardo san, allow me. I have something important to say to you after thinking about it long into the night."

Leonardo shut his mouth, swallowed, and nodded.

Usagi let his hand fall to his side and sighed. "I fear, Leonardo san, I cannot accept your invitation to accompany you and your family back to your world to live with you there. I find my own heart is drawn back to my own world. Though I have not there the large family you do, nor a permanent home, I do have friends I am loyal to. There are ongoing threats against them I cannot abandon them to face alone. I am sorry, Leonardo san."

Here the rabbit bowed to him. Leonardo smiled over his head. "It's okay, Usagi. I understand."

The rabbit raised his head with a smile. "I would offer to take part in a sparring match with you, for we did not get to finish ours in the battle nexus tournament, but I fear my healer has called it most unwise. Certain servants of the Daimyo, and he himself, have warned me not taking that healer's advice is 'also' most unwise."

Leonardo chuckled at this. Then he shrugged. "Well, there's always the next tournament."

Usagi grinned wider and bowed again. "I will see you then."

Leonardo tilted his head "Actually, there is one more thing I'd like to ask of you before then."

Usagi looked up with a slight frown. Leonardo continued. "We already asked Traximus, but he left with some warriors he gathered already to go back to his rebellion. He said it was his duty and asked us to say goodbye to you for him." Usagi gave another slight bow of acknowledgment of this goodbye by proxy. Leonardo gave a slight, sad smile at it and went on. "Anyway, Mikey is receiving the trophy today. We wondered if … as a family friend, you might stand with us when he receives it."

The rabbit's grin grew so wide his mouth opened. "Leonardo san, I would be most honored."

. . .

Before the big event, they went swimming in some hot springs near the city. Servants who worked there attempted to give them massages, but they were very confused by what to do about the four turtles' shells. They ended up sticking mostly to rubbing the four brothers' arms, legs, and shoulders.

Leo thought he, Raph, Donnie, and even Splinter would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if Mikey hadn't been bragging about it being a Battle Nexus champion perk. Neither Raph in his loud, simple way nor Donnie in his longer, complex way bothered stopping themselves from reminding him it was also an "I helped stop the hostile take over of the Battle Nexus" perk.

Usagi (also there, as if to prove this point) kept giving Leonardo glances asking that which he finally voiced out loud to his fellow sword-wielder. "Is it always like this among the members of your family, Leonardo san?"

Leo glanced toward where Donnie held Raph back from Mikey, who, seeing Raph held back, gleefully danced just out of reach. Meanwhile, Splinter snuck up behind his youngest and rapped his staff on the back of his shell. Mikey jumped about four feet straight into the air, landed, and turned back to give his frowning father a cheesy, innocent grin. Raph was laughing loud and proud now. Even Donnie was covering the lower part of his face while doubled over. His shoulders moved up and down.

Leonardo looked back to the rabbit Samurai. "Not always quite 'this' bad, but yeah, usually some version of this is going on."

Usagi looked up raising his eyebrows quite high. "Then, Leonardo san, I believe you must have reached heights of patience I have not."

Leonardo swallowed and covered his laugh. After that, they got back their masks and belts, which had been laundered, and weapons, which had been shined, and went to the platform overlooking the arena. There, Mikey was crowned with a wreath, the like of which Donnie said winners of the ancient Greek Olympic Games had received. He was also handed a huge trophy. Even Raph behaved himself in the solemn moment. Their father stood tall and proud behind his staff. Even Leo felt his heart warm as he watched his little brother being celebrated. And his new best friend stood beside him grinning with the rest of the family.

What do you think?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes